Module description (Module 1)
Module 1: Globalisation, internationalisation and e-business in a business perspective
15 ECTS points
Module 1 consists of 2 elements
Element 1a (Module 1a): Globalisation and the internationalisation of companies in a value
chain perspective, 8 ECTS points
This module introduces students to the theoretical foundation of understanding the basic principles
of globalization and internationalisation in a value chain perspective. The course introduces
students to central theories on globalization, internationalisation and value chain.
Element 1b (Module 1b) : E-business, 7 ECTS points
This module introduces the students to theories and models within e-business and provides insights
into selected subjects within e-business and e-commerce.
Each module has a duration of approximately 5 weeks including examination.
Module 1a has a weight of 8 ECTS and Module 1b of 7 ECTS.
Each module comprises the following activities:
 A series of lectures
 Consultations
 A mini-project
 Oral examination based on the mini project report and reading materials from the module
Location
1st semester, MSc in Economics and Business Administration (International Business Economics)
1st semester, MSc in Economics and Business Administration (International Marketing)
Module coordinator
Coordinator for Module 1a: Associate Professor Romeo Turcan, turcan@business.aau.dk
Coordinator for Module 1b: Associate Professor Reimer Ivang, ivang@business.aau.dk
Type and language
The modules are taught in English.
Students from International Marketing can choose to write their mini-projects in either English or
Danish and choose the examination language to be either English or Danish. Students from IBE can
only choose English as the language in both mini-projects and examination.
Objectives
The Purpose of element 1a
The purpose of element 1a is to provide students with knowledge of theories and methods that will
enable them to analyse and understand companies’ positions and global market opportunities.
By taking this course/module students should be able to demonstrate the following
skills/competencies:
 Identify, describe and analyse global trends in location and organisation of economic
activity
 Describe and analyse the global position and strategy of firms
 Apply models and tools introduced in the course to international business strategy
formulation
The Purpose of element 1b
The purpose of element 1b is to provide students with knowledge of theories and methods that
enable them to understand and analyse e-business and e-commerce. Focus is especially on the way
in which digital tools affect areas such as marketing and strategy development.
By taking this course/module students should be able to demonstrate the following
skills/competencies:
 Describe the main instruments for managing e-Business relationships
 Understand the challenges of utilising the digital technology in a e-Business context
 Apply appropriate tools for data analysis and writing reports based on the analysis
Academic content and conjunction with other modules/semesters
Module 1a
The course introduces students to the theoretical foundation for understanding globalisation and
internationalisation in a value chain perspective.
Module 1b
This course introduces students to the topic of e-business and conducting advanced marketing
research in a digitalised world. There is special focus on international e-commerce and marketing.
Scope and expected performance
Module 1a
Students are expected to spend a total of 216 hours (8 ECTS x 27 hours) on completing this
module, to be divided into the following activities:
Activity
Hours
Participation in 17 course activities
(ie. lectures, guest lectures, workshops, exercise lessons, consultations
and study trips)
45
Reading in preparation for the lectures
66
Written assignment and oral exam
104
Module 1b
Students are expected to spend a total of 189 hours (7 ECTS x 27 hours) on completing this
module, to be divided into the following activities:
Activity
Hours
Participation in 14 course activities
(ie. lectures, guest lectures, workshops, exercise lessons, consultations
and study trips)
56
Reading in preparation for the lectures
38
Written assignment and oral exam
95
Participants
Module 1a
1st semester M.Sc. students of the M.Sc. programme of International Marketing or International
Business Economics. Other degree students or guest students who wish to participate in the module
need to apply to the study board.
Module 1b
1st semester M.Sc. students of the M.Sc. programme of International Marketing or International
Business Economics. Other degree students or guest students who wish to participate in the module
need to apply to the study board.
Prerequisites for participation
Module 1a
The students must be admitted to the master’s programme in economics and business administration
(international marketing). This requires a bachelor’s degree in economics and business
administration (all programmes and combinations) or other degree where commensurate
qualifications are obtained.
Module 1b
The students must be admitted to the master’s programme in economics and business administration
(international marketing). This requires a bachelor’s degree in economics and business
administration (all programmes and combinations) or other degree where commensurate
qualifications are obtained.
Module activities (course sessions etc.)
Detailed course description is available in Moodle.
Examination
Exams in the Autumn Semester
1. Module 1a: An oral examination based on the mini project (max 9,000 words) from Module 1a.
Mini-projects must be submitted electronically to moodle and in hard copies to the secretary.
The oral examination will be conducted on an individual basis with an examiner and an external
examiner and has a duration of 30 minutes. Examiners will give feedback (15 minutes) on the
project and examination to the entire group, when all members of the group have been examined
and the grades have been announced,
Each student will be required to make a presentation. The duration of the presentation should be of
about 10 minutes.
The presentation should cover central issues that the student would like to emphasise in the specific
module that the examination covers. Examiners will ask questions related to the presentation, but
also in other aspects of the project and the syllabus for the specific module.
Although the projects will not be graded separately, the oral examinations will take their point of
reference in the projects in addition to presentations made by the students during the oral
examinations.
Grades will be awarded to each student immediately after the examination. However, students will
only be informed about their grades after the last person in the group has been through with his/her
examination.
Grading according to the Danish 7-point grading scale.
Examination weight is 8 ETCS.
Examinations: End of September/Start of October.
Submission of mini-project:
Two hard copies to be submitted at the secretariat.
Furthermore, a copy must be uploaded to moodle:
Please name the file as follows:
Mini_project_Module1a_Group_XX", where XX is the group number e.g. Group 1, Group 2 etc.
2. Module 1b: An oral examination based on the mini-project (max 9,000 words) from Module 1b.
Mini-projects must be submitted electronically to moodle and in hard copies to the secretary.
The oral examination will be conducted on an individual basis with an examiner and an internal
examiner and has a duration of 30 minutes. Examiners will give feedback (15 minutes) on the
project and examination to the entire group, when all members of the group have been examined
and the grades have been announced.
Each student will be required to make a presentation. The duration of the presentation should be of
about 10 minutes.
The presentation should cover central issues that the student would like to emphasise in the specific
module that the examination covers. Examiners will ask questions related to the presentation, but
also in other aspects of the project and the syllabus for the specific module.
Although the projects will not be graded separately, the oral examinations will take their point of
reference in the projects in addition to presentations made by the students during the oral
examinations.
Grades will be awarded to each student immediately after the examination. However, students will
only be informed about their grades after the last person in the group has been through with his/her
examination.
Grading according to the Danish 7-point grading scale. Examination weight is 7 ETCS.
Examinations: At the beginning of November.